Transcription of Gordon Keith Andersons letters home at close of World War II

U.S.S. L.S.T.1 #1087 Enroute to U.S.A. Dec. 5, 1945 Dear Folks, It is no use to ask how much longer until Ill be home because no one knows! Rumors are that we are to spend four days in Pearl Harbor getting orders, supplies, water, etc. Then proceed on to the states. The place well land there isnt known yet but speculation is that itll be San Diego or San Pedro because the boys going to Fort MacArthur, Calif. are aboard here. We are due into Pearl Harbor tomorrow. If we spend the 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th there and leave on the 11th we should clock the 21st on the coast because it is 10 days sailing time to there. Then there is a backlog of quite a few thousand men at each port so it may be three or four days before well leave there and then about four days to Camp McCoy, Wisc. And then about 3 or 4 days to lay around getting demobilized, so I should be a civilian about between the first to fifth of January. Maybe a few days before and maybe a few days later. At any rate Im figuring on only one month more of Army life. There are a few things Id like Dad or Alvin to get me. Ill pay for them. Id like about three white dress shirts size 15 collar and 34 inch sleeves. If you would get a couple white figures on white it would be o.k. Get my suit out of moth balls and if it needs cleaning or pressing have it done. Id like to have you get me a few abt 3 pairs of loud [sic] dress socks wool preferred. I dont know just when Ill get home, and I may want to dress up before I get to town. Also check on my overcoat. Dec. 9th Well, we are here on Oahu but not aboard any boat anymore. I dont know what happened, but it seems the Navy says that those old LSTs arent safe for transporting troops anymore, so we are now here awaiting shipment some other way again. Rumors are that it wont be very long before well leave though.
1

LST Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore.

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Transcription of Gordon Keith Andersons letters home at close of World War II

Some of the boys were in Honolulu last night and came back telling about prices. It seems that things here are about three times or more the cost in the states. Meals range from $3.50 to $7.00 and up. We are 30 miles from Honolulu here, and the lines (bus lines) are pretty long to sweat out. I havent any uniforms to wear. Mine are all almost worn out or soiled with grease and oil. Heck, I dont care much about going in anyhow. Im spending most of my time eating here at the P.X.2 when the mess hall isnt open. Prices in the P.X. are also pretty high. All soft drinks are a dime. Ice cream 15 and boy Ive really been eating that. Pies (regular 10 stateside) are 25, Fig Newton cookies (5 stateside box) are 20. I havent missed more than one meal at the mess hall (yesterday morning I overslept), and Ive eaten about $5.00 worth of PX stuff already and am still hungry. Better lay in a big supply when I get near home!!!!! We are now attached to the 120th Battalion, 13th Replacement Depot (Infantry), and it is certainly a lot rougher than the Air Corps in inspections, uniform regulations, marching, military courtesy, etc. I am in the 90th Air Service Group which is attached to the 330th Bomb Group which is attached to the 13th Repl Depot for quarters and rations while here. Nolan Beale and I are in the same barracks again. Weve been together a long time, and it looks like well go from here to the coast together again. By the way, it seems to be rumored San Francisco where well dock now. Im sending you sorta a diary I kept from Tinian to here. Save that for me. Be seeing you soon. Before Christmas I hope. As ever Gordon

Post Exchange

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Transcription of Gordon Keith Andersons letters home at close of World War II

Nov. 17 Saturday All men with 54 points (thats me) received word over bitch box to pick up clearance papers at orderly room and clear (process) before 1800 Special Service, Red Cross, Tech Supply, Post Exchange Service Club, Dispensary, Group Supply, Personal Affairs, Squadron Orderly Room and Group Adjutant were on cleaning list. Received flu shot at dispensary. Nov. 18 Sunday Felt pretty sick from the flu shot. Dragged myself over to the mess hall for breakfast. Came back and packed my clothes. Wanted to go to church but felt too miserable. Had to work this afternoon from 1200 to 1600. Was relieved of duties of Provost Sgt by Provost Marshall Lt. Herman Gershowitz. Service club gave us beer without rations (men who had processed). I drank three cans and hit sack early. Rumors are that we are to leave tomorrow morning. Everybody is restricted to area. Nov. 19 Monday Been sitting around all day doing nothing. Rumors are now that we are leaving tomorrow on LSTs. Sure hope not on LSTs. Nov. 20 Tuesday We are definitely leaving tomorrow morning. We had a meeting of all men going home at 1600. We are going on LSTs, split up according to separation center. I am to leave on USS LST 1087. Am to leave area at 0800 and board boat at 0900 tomorrow morning. Gave away my rubber sock mattress and pillow for $2.00, $10.00 loss but guess I had that much good out of it. Was worth well over 10 per night. Wrote folks, told them I am leaving tomorrow. Nov. 21 Wednesday Feel a bit dizzy tonight, on board boat. Didnt come aboard until a few minutes after 1400. Left the pier almost immediately for Saipan. We are now setting out in Saipan Harbor. Shall shove off tomorrow. Nov. 22 Thursday We left Saipan at 1500 today. Am dizzier than yesterday. The captain tried to scare us by telling us we were going back to Tinian and unload
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Transcription of Gordon Keith Andersons letters home at close of World War II

and then telling us we were going by way of Okinawa, etc. He seems to be a joker. Believe hell be o.k. There are 502 soldiers aboard, and over to a hundred sailors. Men are sleeping everywhere on the deck and all over. The sea isnt smooth and not rough just right for getting good and seasick but wasnt. Could still see the lights on Saipan at 2100 tonight. Nov. 23 Feel kind of dizzy today too but havent been seasick yet. The sea is about like yesterday. Nov. 24 Saturday A beautiful day out today, and I feel fine. The sea is pretty smooth and this old tub isnt on the sides very much. Nov. 25 Sunday Another nice day with the sea like glass. Played cards practically all day with Herbert Dunstan and Stanley Bowers (pinochle). Had Protestant services at 1630 and I attended. They were held on top deck. We set our watches ahead an hour today. Nov. 26 Monday Nice smooth day today with just a few swells. Nov. 27 Tuesday During the night last night it rained and this morning it was rough. Tonight it is still rough. White caps all over. Nov. 28 Wednesday Today was just like yesterday. Rough as heck. Cant hardly walk from one place to another and it feels just like we are running into a stone wall every half minute. A lot of sick boys today. So far Im okay. I was on detail today cleaning up the holds, etc. A Swabbie!!! Nov. 29 Thursday The old ocean was the roughest yet today. Our escort has broken down and another ship in the convoy is towing it, so now were losing time.

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Transcription of Gordon Keith Andersons letters home at close of World War II

Nov. 30 Friday A little better day today about same maybe because Im used to it more. Dec. 1 Thought we had crossed date line last night, but I guess not. It is the 1st of Dec today. Nice weather. Dec 1st again We crossed the Int. Date Line last night and also set our watches back another hour again. This month will have 32 days in it. Dec. 2nd Roughened up a bit last night and today. Dec. 3rd Pretty rough again today. High swells. Dec. 4th The roughest day yet. High swells and waves with wind. Some sailors said the worst swells they had seen. Dec. 5th Smoother today a week bit. Are due into Pearl Harbor sometime tomorrow. Dec. 6th Rainy and nasty day today. Sighted Hawaiian Islands about 9 oclock. Arrived Pearl Harbor at 1300. Tied up to another ship for overnight. Time ahead hour. Are now 3 1/2 hours ahead of Tinian minus one day. Dec. 7th Unloaded ship at 1030 this morning. Are now quartered in barracks in 13th Repl Depot. 4 years anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

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